Extended Family Living Structure

Traditionally, Chinese adhere to a patrilineal descent pattern and an extended family living structure. We visited a neighborhood family for lunch and I was impressed by how many family members reside in the same apartment. After asking a few questions, this is my best conjecture as to who lives here. We'll designate three month-old Duo Duo as the ego.

• ego: Duo Duo
• mother
• father
• maternal grandmother
• maternal grandfather
• paternal grandmother (it appears that paternal grandfather is deceased)

and possibly:

• paternal uncle
• paternal uncle's wife
• paternal cousin (six years old)

maternal grandmother prepared the food

six year-old cousin's desk and drawings in the family room,

maternal grandmother cooking a fish

a giant poster of China's greats on the wall: Zhou Enlai, Liu Shaoqi, Mao Zedong

Duo Duo cried when held by his maternal grandfather, and longed for the comfort of his paternal grandmother's arms

unfortunately for Duo Duo, paternal grandmother was busy with another baby